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Phillies Eye Astros Star Jeremy Peña
6 Nov
Summary
- Jeremy Peña, former World Series MVP, could bolster Phillies' lineup.
- Peña excels against fastballs, offers speed and contact hitting.
- Astros may trade Peña due to contract situation and infield depth.
The Philadelphia Phillies are considering a trade for Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña, who tormented them in the 2022 World Series as a rookie MVP. Peña's skillset—hitting fastballs, running speed, and contact ability—directly addresses current deficiencies in the Phillies' lineup.
His performance against fastballs, leading MLB hitters in batting average over the past two seasons, aligns with a trend seen in successful teams like Milwaukee and Tampa Bay. Peña also offers speed on the bases, a characteristic manager Don Mattingly aims to implement.
Peña's potential acquisition could also resolve infield uncertainty for the Phillies, particularly concerning Trea Turner's defensive capabilities at shortstop. Turner's performance in 2026 led to criticism, and Peña's athleticism offers a younger, potentially more stable option.
The Astros might be open to trading Peña as he enters his final arbitration year and can become a free agent after the 2027 World Series. Houston also has infield depth and could use the trade to replenish its farm system.
A potential trade package could involve top prospect Bryan Rincon, along with a major-league player like Brandon Marsh or pitcher Orion Kerkering. However, the Phillies should avoid trading their top position-player prospect, Aidan Miller.
Acquiring Peña for a single guaranteed year would be difficult to justify, but securing him through the early portion of their next core would represent a significant investment. He offers a combination of speed, fastball production, and postseason experience not readily available in the current free-agent market.
